Hammock-suspension device



(No Model.)

J. D. PRITOHARD.

HAMMOGK SUSPENSION DEVICE.

No. 399,928. Patented Mar. 19, 1889.

WITNESSES: IIVVE/VTOR:

A TTOR/VEYS.

JOHN D. PRITCHARD,

FFICE.

OF TOPEKA, KANSAS.

HAMMOCK-SUSPENSION DEVICE.

SIEGIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,928, dated March 19, 1889.

Application filed November 27, 1888. Serial No. 291,977. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JOHN D. PRITCHARD, of Topeka, in the county of Shawnee and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and Improved Hanunock Suspension Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description My invention relates to devices for suspending a hammock from a flat wall and a round tree or post or between two flat walls or two round trees or posts; and the invention has for its object to provide a simple, inexpensive, and readily-adjustable device of this character which will automatically swing the hammock when it is moved to one side by its occupant or another person, and will also allow a limited endwise motion of the hammock to promote the comfort of its occupant.

Theinvention consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations of parts of the hammock-suspension devices, all as hereinafter described and claimed.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hammock suspended bet-ween the corner of a building and an adjacent tree by means of my improved device. Fig. is a side elevation of the hammock hook and its supportingbracket and the tree or post clamping device. Fig. 3 is a front view thereof with one of the bracket-arms partly broken away. Fig. a is sectional plan view taken on the line x in Fig. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional plan view taken on the line 1 y in Fig. 3, and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the loop-retainin g springs of the tree-clamp plates.

The hammock-suspension device consists, mainly, of a bracket, A, a spring-actuated hook, l3, hung thereto, and pairs of metal plates G, which with suitable cords or straps, D, constitute a clamp to hold one or both bracketsupported hooks to a tree or trees to hang the hammock thereto, all as hereinafter more particularly described.

The bracket A may have any suitable form adapted to support the hook and tree clamps, substantially in the manner hereinafter specifled; but I prefer to make it of cast metal and with a main back plate, E, having a heart shape marginally and provided with two upper arms, 6 6, extending forward one from each edge or side of the upper part of the plate, and lying in about a horizontal plane and converging to a bearing, 6, for the shaft of the hammock-hook, and to this hearing is connected the upper outer end of a diagonally-ranging arm, 6 which at its other or lower end is connected to the lower central portion of the main plate. This plate E,with its three arms, 6 6 e while being comparatively light, affords substantial support to the hammock-hook and hammock, as presently explained, and is adapted for any style of ornamentation either in the casting of it or by painting or otherwise, as circumstances may suggest or require, to accommodate different tastes or purchasers.

The plate, as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawi'ngs, is provided with two openings, giving it a neat appearance.

The hammock-hook B is made with a lower upturned hook end, b, to receive the eye f of the hammock F, and at its upper portion the hook is branched upward to form three separated arms or prongs, b b b, which receive between them the two arms or parts 9 g of the forked end of the hook-shaft Gr. These five arms I) g are pivoted or hinged together by a laterally-ranging pin, g, allowing free swing of the hook toward and from the plate E. The shaft G at its outer part is journaled in the bracket-bearing c, and at its inner end is provided with a semi-spherical or halfball head, giwhich fits loosely within a cupped or concavo-convex bearing, H, which preferably has an ogec circular flanged edge and is held to the plate E by three or four screws, 72 passed through the plate from its rear face or side into the marginal flange of the bearing. (See Fig. 4 of the drawings.) This construction gives the bearing and plate a nicely-finished appearance. The shaft-head g will be screwed or otherwise fastened to the inner end of the hook-shaft G' after the shaft is slipped into the bearings e H and before the latter is secured to the main plate of the bracket; but any suitable construction of these parts may be adopted which will support the hook-shaft and hook, so they may rock or turn axially in and on the bracket.

To the hook-shaft G is fixed or held one end of a spring, preferably a coiled spring, I, the other end of which is fixed to a lug on the cupped bearing H, and this spring is preferably covered by a tube or sleeve, J, which extends between the bracket-bearings e H, and protects the spring from the weather, and thereby promotes its durability under the torsional strains to which it is subjected in swinging the hammock, as presently explained.

Holes h in the bearings H and 6' provide for oiling the shaft and its head with some suitable non-glutinous oil to lessen friction and secure durability of the shaft and its bearings.

Holes made in the main bracket-plate E at a provide passage for screws by which the plate may be fastened to a fiat wall or fence or the corner board or post of a building, as shown at the left-hand side of Fig. 1 of the drawings; but in order to assure a firm connection of the bracket A to a tree or post I have provided the clamping-plates and cords or straps C D, which I will now particularly describe as follows: Each of the parts 0 consists of a plate of metal, preferably having some elasticity, and made with an inner central part, c, which is preferably curved and presents its rounded face to the back of the main plate E of the bracket and with two end portions, 0 c, which project forward through slots 00 in the plate E and are preferably provided wit-l1 a series of holes, 0 to receive thumb-screws K, which are threaded into lugs 6 formed on the main plate E, or it maybe into the edges of the plate were it made thick enough for the purpose. 1

As shown best in Fig. 5 of the drawings, the inner ends, 70, of the screws K are reduced in thickness and are left plain or without a screwhread, which is out only on those parts of the screws next their heads. These plain inner parts or ends, 70, of the screws fit into the holes 0 of the plates 0 and into holes of like size made in the inner lug e of each pair of lugs 6 between which one of the plates 0 passes. The outer lugs e of each pair of lugs are bored larger and tapped to receive the larger screw-threaded parts of the thumb-screws. Vith this construction it is obvious that the plates will be securely held to the bracket by the thumb-screws K, and the strain of supporting the bracket and ham mock from the plates 0 C will be taken by the inner plain parts of the thumb-screws, the threaded parts of which will thus not be injured by the pull or strain of the plates on the screws. Short bolts L are passed through the centers of the two clamp-plates C 0, through the bracket-plate E, and receive nuts Z at the front face of the plate for holding the plates 0 to the brackets. (See Fig. 5 of the drawings.)

At the points of junction of the parts a c c of the clamp-plates O 0 they are provided with open eyes on m, into which are placed metal loops M M, made preferably in D form,

and to which the straps D or ropes or bands of any suitable kind are connected, so as to bind the clamp-plates C O, and consequently the bracket, securely to a round tree or post, as will be understood from the right-hand side of Fig. 1 of the drawings, and when the clamp-plates C are removed from one bracket or are not applied to it said bracket may be scre'wed to the flat corner-post of a building or any flat surface adapted to support one end of the hammock.

The flexibility of the clamp-plates C, together with the adjustability of the plates forward or backward in the main bracketplate, allows the brackets to be adjusted very easily and quickly to round trees or posts of of any size or diameter.

To prevent slipping of the stay-strap loops or eyes M inward on the parts 0 or c of the clamp-plates G O, or, in other words, to hold these loops in the eyes on of the clamp-plates, I employ an angular elastic or spring metal guard-plate, N, which is fastened to either of the parts 0 c by screws or rivets passed through holes n in one end of the guardplate, the other end of which bears on the other part c or c to hold the stay-strap loops in the eyes m however the clamp-plates may be adjusted.

It is obvious that two of the brackets A with the clamps C D removed therefrom may be used to hold the hammock-hooks to opposite walls or flat surfaces of any other support, and that two of the brackets with the clamps G D attached may be employed to sus pend the hooks from two adjoining round trees or posts, and that one bracket and hook may be attached to a flat support and the other to a tree or post to sustain the hammock F by its end eyes, f f, which are slipped onto the ends I) b of the hooks, and whenthe hammock is thus adjusted to two opposite hooks it is manifest that when it is swung to one side either by the person occupying it touching the ground with the foot or by another person the hook-springs I on the hookshafts will be put under torsional strain and will be coiled to store up their power, which will be expended to carry the hammock back again and continue for a time the easy swinging or rocking motion of the hammock and its occupant or occupants. Furthermore, the hinged connection of the hooks B with. their axially-rotatable shafts G by the pins g allows a limited endwise motion of the hammock, which promotes the comfort of its occupants.

I may use but one or two or more of the clamp-plates C with each bracket, two, as shown, being preferred in practice.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, in a hammock-suspension device, of a bracket, a shaft journaled thereto, a hook connected to the shaft and adapted to support the hammock, and a spring connected to the hook-shaft and its support and adapted by its reaction to swing the hook and hammock, substantially as herein set forth.

2. The combination,in a hammock-suspension device, of a bracket, a shaft journaled thereto for axial movement, and a hook pivoted to the shaft for swinging movement end- Wise of an attached hammock, substantially as herein set forth.

3. The combination, in a hammock-suspension device, of a bracket, a shaft journaled thereto for axial movement, a hook pivoted to the shaft for swinging movement endWise of an attached hammock, and a spring 0011- nected to the hook-shaft and its support and adapted by its reaction to swing the hook and hammock sidewise, substantially as herein set forth.

4. The combination, ina hammock-suspension device, of a bracket comprising a plate, E, having arms 6 e e and a bearing, e,a shaft journaled at its outer end in the bearing 6 and having at its inner end a semi-spherical head, a corresponding cupped bearing on the bracket-plate, a hook, B, pivoted to the outer end of the shaft, and a spring, I, connected to the shaft and its cupped bearing, all arranged substantially as herein set forth.

5. In a hammock suspension device, the combinatiomwith a bracket-support, of a horizontal shaft journaled thereto for axial movement and having a forked outer end, and a hook adapted to sustain a hammock and havin g a bifurcated or branched upper end hinged or pivoted to the forked end of the shaft, substantially as herein set forth.

6. In a hammocksuspension device, the combination, With a bracket or plate sustaining a ha]mnock-supporting hook, of one or more clan1p-plates having a central portion adapted to a tree or post, and end parts passed outward through the bracket or plate, fastening devices for the ends of the clamp-plates at the bracketplate, and cords, straps, or bands connect-ed to the clamp plate and adapted With said plate to suspend a hammock from a tree or post, substantially as herein set forth.

7. In a hammock-suspension device, the combinatiomwith the main bracket-plate having slots a and removable tree or post clampplates having bent perforated end parts adapted to the slots, of retaining-screws K, fitted in. pairs of lugs on the plates and in the outerlugs of the pair of lugs by a screw-thread, and in the inner lugs and in the clamp-plate holes by plain parts is, substantially as herein set forth.

8. In a hammock-suspension device, the combinatiomwith the main bracket-plate having slots a and retaining screws or pins in said slots, of removable tree or post clampplates having bent perforated end parts adapted to the slots and to receive the retainers, and detachable bolt or screw fastenings connecting the centers of the clamp-plates to the main bracketplate, substantially as herein set forth.

9. I11 a hammock-suspension device, the combination, With the slotted main bracketplate, of tree and post clamp plates held thereto and having bent ends entering the main plate-slots, and retainers for the plates at said slots, said plates having loop-strap eyes m at their bends, and strap or cord loops M in said eyes, of guards N, held at the platebends to retain the loops M in the eyes m, substantially as herein set forth.

10. In a hammock-suspension device, the combination, With the main bracket-plate sus taining a hammock-supporting hook, of clampplates 0, formed With central and end parts, 0 c c, the latter passed through slots of the bracket-plate, bolts or detachable fastenings holding the center of the clamp-plates to the bracket-plate, screws K, connecting the plates C adj ustably to the main plate, and cords or straps D, connected to the clamp-plates, substantially as herein set forth.

JOHN D. PRITOHARD. WVitnesses:

ROBERT 'D. JONES, RICHARD R. JONES. 

